City soaks Plantation residents

OPINION - Reader Views

January 28, 2007

I -- and others here in The Plantation at Leesburg -- wish to thank columnist Lauren Ritchie for calling attention to the manner and methods Leesburg is using utility reserves to cover shortfalls in other areas.

The feeling here is that the city's water utility is trying to make up some of the deficit by overcharging Plantation residents.

Our former water company permitted the installation of irrigation meters to reduce the monthly $30.30 sewerage charge. My home's monthly water/sewer cost was lowered by an average of $20 and the cost of the irrigation meter was paid back over the following 12 months.

When the city took over, Environmental Services Director Ray Sharp stated that prior to the purchase, Leesburg's water utility had only about 40 irrigation meters in its system. The Plantation added another 400.

He indicated that there would be some recommendations put before the City Commission to give some relief from the high charges being applied by the city to irrigation-meter owners.

We were led to believe that it would be done in the fall, and we might expect some relief in the spring. So far, nothing has been done. Sharp does not return phone calls, and water bills have soared.

We are billed $32.23 for sewage, regardless of minimal household water usage, and an additional charge of $3.21 for being so unfortunate as to not live within the city limits. My home's water and sewer bill has risen from an average of $45 to more than $70.